I have always felt that kindness was a reward within itself, however I never thought that my kindness would turn into a curse...
It all started one morning when, my best friend, Draven and I went for our usual walk to harvest fresh herbs and medicinal plants for my herbalist practice. The air smelled of rain from the night before, the leaves hanging heavy like chandeliers from the trees with droplets reflecting the sun's radiance. "What a beautiful morning," Draven said breaking the silence that lingered between us. I just didn't feel like talking, something felt off, uneasy even.
I merely gave a nod to validate his statement.
"Kayla... There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about," he uttered hesitantly. I looked up at him, admiring his hazel colored eyes. I have always felt more than friendship for Draven than I would have liked to admit. That was probably the reason for my silence. I wanted Draven desperately, and my feelings for him grew each time I saw him making me uncomfortable. I was angry at him for not noticing the signs.
"Hm," I said irritably.
"I know that we have been friends for the longest time now, but the truth is that..." he started confessing until we were interrupted by the sight of something black laying lifeless on the ground. I instinctively ran towards it to find a pitch black raven covered in grime and blood. It was barely alive.
"Draven, come quick!" I shouted. "We have to help it."
"Kayla, I'm not getting a good feeling about this, something about this bird seems... Strange?" Draven said observing its rustled feathers and broken wing.
Draven was always the cautious and superstitious kind, but I wanted, needed to help this creature. I took off my jacket and slowly wrapped the raven in its warmth. We rushed back to my cabin where I immediately tended to the bird's needs. I store various elixirs from my practice in my cabin for emergency and gave one of them to the bird hoping that its healing properties would work.
Over the course of a few months the raven was doing incredibly well - eating on its own, uttering a few sounds and even started flying again. We built an incredible bond until one day...
Draven came by as he usually would, but each time he ignored the bird saying it was an omen of bad luck. I didn't believe him and found ravens to be misunderstood, deserving of love and care. "I think you should get rid of it," Draven mentioned not even looking in the raven's direction.
"But that's not why I came, I wanted to continue the chat we had the day you found that thing."
I nodded once more, staring at him awaiting what he was about to say.
"The thing is Kayla, I can't ignore this anymore. I know it's a risk but I want you, I crave you and I was wondering if you felt the same?" Draven confessed in a shaky voice.
I was breathless, this was exactly what I was waiting for, I didn't hesitate and immediately grabbed him on his collar pulling him against me. We kissed, our tongues dancing to the melody of our breath. He pushed me against the wall and tore my shirt from my body revealing my breasts. I could feel his erection growing against me as our bodies collided. We had a moment of long awaited passion burning within.
After Draven left, I felt revived, and utterly smitten, however when I went to look for the raven it disappeared. Instead an old woman stood in its place rummaging through my elixirs.
"Who... Who are you?" I asked in fear.
"I am the raven you saved sweetie. A wizard placed a curse on me turning me into that wretched bird, but now that I am fully healed, thanks to your elixirs, I was able to return to my human form. Seems you know how to create the good stuff," the witch explained in a sweet voice.
"And, to say thank you, I'll grant you a wish. Anything you'd like or want".
I was shocked to my core, Draven was right about the raven. "I, uhm, I don't believe in witches or wishes," I muttered walking back slowly trying to escape.
"That boy that was here a few moments ago, wouldn't you like to have him as your own forever? I saw that you love each other dearly with my time here, but life is too short. He is sick by the way, doesn't have long. I can do that you know, a little immortality potion for the both of you, and as easy as that," she said trying to convince me.
I thought long and hard about what the witch said, and Draven and I only started our romantic journey. I never really knew he was sick, but as that day we went for our walk something did feel off with him. I agreed with tears in my eyes to save Draven's life.
The witch brought me the potions in two small vials and explained that I could mix it in a drink. One for him and one for me.
I invited Draven over.
"Are you sick Draven?" I asked him as a deciding factor to use the potions.
He looked down. "Yes, Kayla, and I don't have much time, therefore I wanted to go with the thought that you knew how I felt."
I made the both of us some chamomile tea with the potions mixed in them after talking about his condition for a while. However with the immortality came a great burden:
I watched Draven take the last sip of his tea, and everything changed - at first he seemed more alive, cured but then he fell to the ground unconscious.
After a while he awoke.
"Thank you," he said. "I feel better, I think you cured me doc, didn't know there was a cure for my condition."
Draven never called me that before.
"You are a doctor, aren't you?, may I have the name of my healer?" he asked.
I couldn't help but to freeze, my heart stopped. Draven had forgotten who I was.
He left, and sure as it may be both of us gained immortality, but with a price. I watched him live his life among the shadows of what could have been. He eventually got married, but my heart always longed for him.
They say debt can be paid by gold or blood, and kindness doesn't equal weakness, but no one ever mentioned that in the process of it all one could lose their heart, just as I lost mine...
